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TK Jones Campground - 1 member in 6 triplogs has rated this an average 5 ( 1 to 5 best )
6 triplogs
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Feb 17 2025
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 Guides 27
 Routes 518
 Photos 5,861
 Triplogs 883

72 female
 Joined Jan 21 2006
 Eagar AZ
Lower Colorado River Semi-loop, CA 
Lower Colorado River Semi-loop, CA
 
Kayak avatar Feb 17 2025
azbackpackr • Triplogs 883
Kayak6.42 Miles
Kayak6.42 Miles   3 Hrs   52 Mns   1.96 mph
 
1st trip
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TK Jones Campground
Partners none no partners
A one-day paddling adventure with a couple friends. I generally do this one every year. Starting from TK Jones Campground we paddle across what used to be called Squaw Lake, hang a left, and go up the backwater to the Senator Wash Dam, where we take a lunch break. There aren't a lot of places you can get out of your boat in these waters, so it's good to know where each one is located. Most of the shoreline is either deep in giant cane thickets, growing in water, or near vertical.

Finding the passageway to get out to the main Colorado River is tricky if you don't know the area. It narrows down to an actual tunnel--very cool!

It's important to watch the wind forecast before planning the trip. We are snowbirds, and have lots of days to pick from. You are not going to be happy with a headwind or sidewind coming back down the river, or in that shallow lake.

I wasn't really birding. Saw the usual Great Egret, Osprey, Coots, various flavors of ducks.
_____________________
There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
  3 archives
Feb 11 2025
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 Guides 27
 Routes 518
 Photos 5,861
 Triplogs 883

72 female
 Joined Jan 21 2006
 Eagar AZ
TK Jones hiking hills, CA 
TK Jones hiking hills, CA
 
Hiking avatar Feb 11 2025
azbackpackr • Triplogs 883
Hiking1.50 Miles
Hiking1.50 Miles
 no routes
1st trip
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TK Jones Campground
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I haven't done a hike description for this area. But I did submit a change of name for the campground where we started the hike. It is now called T.K. Jones Campground. The BLM now calls Squaw Lake "a Colorado River backwater" and the local tribe is calling it Xanyō Xamshré, but since no one can pronounce that, it's unlikely to gain popularity.

I forgot my GPS. We started in the campground and hiked around through the hills. It's quite a maze of trails. It was very windy, I'd say close to 30 mph. When we dipped down into the gullies it was calm, but when we were on the ridges it was blustery.

This couple, friends of mine, come to Squaw Lake in their RV from Colorado every year. We usually go kayaking, but had to change our plans due to the breeze.
_____________________
There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
  3 archives
Mar 06 2018
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 Guides 27
 Routes 518
 Photos 5,861
 Triplogs 883

72 female
 Joined Jan 21 2006
 Eagar AZ
Squaw Lake Loops, CA 
Squaw Lake Loops, CA
 
Hiking avatar Mar 06 2018
azbackpackr • Triplogs 883
Hiking2.16 Miles 390 AEG
Hiking2.16 Miles   1 Hour   51 Mns   1.42 mph
390 ft AEG      20 Mns Break
 
1st trip
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TK Jones Campground
Partners none no partners
From Squaw Lake Campground you can wander all over a very hilly nearby peninsula, which has several easy trail loops. From the tops of the hills the views are incredible. You can see up and down the Colorado River, and many backwater channels and coves. Senator Wash Reservoir, a land-locked impoundment (with no river access by boat) is off to the west. The rugged brown Chocolate Mountains and California's Picacho Peak are nearby, (not to be confused with the one in Arizona).
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Senator Wash Reservoir  Squaw Lake

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Imperial Reservoir 76-100% full 76-100% full

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Senator Wash Reservoir 76-100% full 76-100% full

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Squaw Lake 76-100% full 76-100% full
_____________________
There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
 
Feb 14 2015
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 Guides 27
 Routes 518
 Photos 5,861
 Triplogs 883

72 female
 Joined Jan 21 2006
 Eagar AZ
Colorado River - Imperial Dam Loop, AZ 
Colorado River - Imperial Dam Loop, AZ
 
Kayak avatar Feb 14 2015
azbackpackr • Triplogs 883
Kayak3.14 Miles
Kayak3.14 Miles   1 Hour   51 Mns   2.77 mph
 
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TK Jones Campground
Partners none no partners
I'd wanted to paddle this little loop for some time, first to see how it goes, and also to finish off another short section of the Colorado River. So I now have paddled ALMOST from Palo Verde Dam (above Blythe) to Imperial Dam.

It was a very pleasant day to float down the river. When I got almost to the dam, as close to the dam as I was going to get, I hung a right into a backwater channel which would take me back to Squaw Lake where I was camping. I explored only one of the side lakes off this channel, and found a very interesting relic of a boathouse, and a beach to park my kayak, and even a picnic table. There was no one else around.

I beached the boat and explored the area for a few minutes. After having lunch in the shade of a palo verde tree I got back in the boat and paddled INTO the boat house! It took a bit of maneuvering to turn my 17-foot boat around, but I didn't have to back out of there. I got it turned around so I could take photos as I left it as well.

Then I paddled the rest of the side channel, and arrived at the channel leading back to Squaw Lake. A very easy and pleasant loop.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Domestic Duck

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Imperial Reservoir 76-100% full 76-100% full

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water less than max Senator Wash Reservoir 51-75% full 51-75% full

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Squaw Lake 76-100% full 76-100% full
_____________________
There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
 
Feb 16 2014
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 Guides 27
 Routes 518
 Photos 5,861
 Triplogs 883

72 female
 Joined Jan 21 2006
 Eagar AZ
Colorado River - Walter's Camp to Squaw Lake, AZ 
Colorado River - Walter's Camp to Squaw Lake, AZ
 
Kayak avatar Feb 16 2014
azbackpackr • Triplogs 883
Kayak41.94 Miles
Kayak41.94 Miles2 Days   1 Hour   1 Min   
 
1st trip
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Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
TK Jones Campground
Picacho State Recreation Area
Partners none no partners
This was a three day kayak trip down the Lower Colorado River, camping on the shore at boat-in campsites. Since we were putting in at Walter's Camp, a private campground on the California side of the river, we camped there as well. Very good place to start, nice folks there. We left our shuttle vehicle there as well. We had great weather, in the 80's and 90's during the day, and fairly balmy at night as well. We saw bald eagles and all the usual birds, such as herons, egrets, coots, and ducks. At one point, early in the trip, my newly acquired rescue skills came into play, when one of my fellow paddlers found himself out of his boat, hanging onto the side, and drifting downriver. Do you know what a paddle float is? Well, it can save the day, and it sure did in this case. We camped at Carrizo Wash Boat-in Campsites at Picacho State Park and the next night at Ferguson Lake dispersed camping area. Ferguson is pretty marginal, and at first I thought the campsite was not too great, but we made it work for ourselves. We took out at Squaw Lake Campground. We didn't camp there, since it takes so much time to retrieve the shuttle vehicle, etc.

All in all, it was a fantastic trip! We learned a lot about multiday kayaking, too! It was only the second time I had done it, and the first time was in a rental boat.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Brittlebush
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  HAZ - Selfie
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Imperial Reservoir 76-100% full 76-100% full
_____________________
There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
 
Jan 26 2014
avatar

 Guides 27
 Routes 518
 Photos 5,861
 Triplogs 883

72 female
 Joined Jan 21 2006
 Eagar AZ
Squaw Lake Loop, CA 
Squaw Lake Loop, CA
 
Kayak avatar Jan 26 2014
azbackpackr • Triplogs 883
Kayak4.42 Miles
Kayak4.42 Miles   1 Hour   56 Mns   2.43 mph
 
Linked   linked  
TK Jones Campground
Partners none no partners
After a wonderful paddle trip down the river the day before: http://hikearizona.com/photoset=28612 we headed for Squaw Lake Campground on the California side of the river. We had lost a few participants who had not planned to camp. So we were down to about 10 people and 9 boats, I think. We had a great time sitting around the campfire that Saturday evening. Sunday we launched into the lake and headed for the waterway, which is a side channel that goes upstream and joins the Colorado River. The side channel has far less current than the river. This part of the Colorado is above both Laguna Dam and Imperial Dam, so it does carry a lot of water. What a great place area. Lots of wildlife (watch your food at night--lots of raccoons, and they will come inside your tent! They have no shame!

I can't wait to go back! Stay tuned!
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Squaw Lake
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Moon

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Imperial Reservoir 76-100% full 76-100% full

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Senator Wash Reservoir 76-100% full 76-100% full

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Squaw Lake 76-100% full 76-100% full
_____________________
There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
 
average hiking speed 2.15 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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